A Doula is a woman
experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical,
emotional and informational support to the mother before, during
and just after childbirth. Trained Doulas understand the
physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
Generally, Doulas believe that pregnancy and birth are normal,
natural and healthy processes. This includes preparation for
birth helping the laboring woman with encouragement, comfort
measures, relaxation techniques, and an objective viewpoint, as
well as support after childbirth, such as help with
breastfeeding.
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HELP YOU?
As a trained doula I can assist you in preparing for
and carrying out the plans for your birth. I will help to
facilitate communication between you, your partner and
your clinical care providers. I will be with you
throughout the birthing process and assist you with
breastfeeding, following the birth, to help to avoid
complications.
We will have at least two meetings before your birth to
discuss the issues important to both you and your partner,
help you to write your birth plan and go over birthing
positions and ways to be more comfortable during your
labor. We will also to view a birth video
together to discuss the birthing process in depth. I want
to help make this …..YOUR BIRTH ! Giving
birth is something you will remember for a lifetime.
I will help to make it a memorable experience by taking
care of the small details, help to answer questions as
they arise, and to be there for YOU.
I also have a wonderful back up doula I work closely
with. Her name is Darla Burns and her website is www.douladarla.com.
Darla and I have been working together for almost 3
years. She is a wonderful doula whose love shines through
in her work with clients. If I were to be unavailable at
the time of your labor, Darla would cover for me until I
could get to you. The only event that would require my
absence would be if I were ill or at another birth. This
gives you the added security of knowing there will always
be someone there for you in your time of need.
After your birth, I keep myself available to you by
telephone, plus we will also have at least one postpartum
visit to discuss your blessed event and help answer
questions you might have. I will write an account of your
birth in a letter to your baby, as a keepsake, and at that
time I am available to assist you with any breastfeeding
issues or other problems you may be having.
As
a Doula I meet many different women of all shapes, sizes,
color, origin and faiths--holding her hand and learning
that we share a sisterhood not only of gender but of
experience and desires. As a woman we long for an
experience as close to our ideal as possible, with good
outcomes and happy memories. It means sharing those
memories, accepting what we cannot change, and working
toward elevating ourselves from a position of
vulnerability to a new level of self-empowerment--all
within the space of a few hours.
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Recommended Reading
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, Revised and
Updated : The Complete Guide
By Simkin,
Whalley, Keppler
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
By Henci Goer
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to
Childbirth Preparation
By Pam England
Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding
By La Leche
League
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Hey, Who's
Having this Baby Anyway?
- Breck Hawk, RN Midwife
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Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
- Ina May Gaskin
www.heyanyway.com
Contact me:
- yvonne@doulawithlove.com
- ymnovak@sbcglobal.net
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There are
several benefits of having a doula at your
birth.
- A 50% reduction in your chance of
having a cesarean
- A 60% reduction in the use of epidural
anesthesia and 30% reduction in the use
of narcotics
- A 40% reduction in the use of Pitocin
(the synthetic version of oxytocin
- A 25% reduction in the time of labor
- A 40% reduction in the use of forceps
and vacuum extraction
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Why don't
more women use Doula's?
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According to Doulas of North America, one of the
biggest obstacles of doulas becoming more
of an integral part of the childbirth
process, is simply the lack of education
among the general population, healthcare
professionals, and insurance companies. As
people become more aware of the
differences that doulas can make, their
role will become more and more prominent.
We have a
secret in our culture, and it is not that
birth is painful, it is that women are
strong.
LAURA STAVOE HARM
www.dascdoulas.org
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DOULA WITH LOVE
